News release For immediate release
Better Water and Wastewater Treatment in store for Sea to Sky Corridor
Lions Bay, B.C., March 30, 2017 – The governments of Canada and British Columbia are safeguarding public health and helping protect the province's waterways by investing in projects to ensure that water and wastewater systems are up to date, efficient and meet communities' increasing capacity needs. These investments will also help create jobs and lay the foundation for new economic opportunities to strengthen the middle class across the province. Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, and Jordan Sturdy, MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, today announced that four new project(s) in the Sea to Sky corridor have been approved under the Government of Canada’s Clean Water and Waste Water Fund.
The Lions Bay Water Storage Facilities will receive $1,355,500 in federal funding and $894,630 in provincial funding. The Squamish Water System Improvements will receive $688,100 in federal funding and $454,146 in provincial funding. The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District’s Pinecrest Estates Wastewater Treatment Plant (Sewer) Replacement will receive $998,205 in federal funding and $658,815 in provincial funding. Whistler’s Emerald Water System Disinfection Upgrade will receive $1,256,512 in federal funding and $829,298 in provincial funding. The local governments will provide the balance of funding.
Sea to Sky residents will benefit from new and improved water and wastewater treatment facilities, which replace aging infrastructure currently servicing these communities and introducing upgraded processes to ensure cleaner water flows in Whistler, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, Squamish and Lions Bay.
Quotes
“Water and wastewater treatment infrastructure is essential to maintaining clean waterways and a healthy environment. I’m glad to see these critical projects move forward, which will help ensure the long-term health and safety of Lions Bay, Squamish, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District and Whistler residents for generations to come. Elected officials at the local level have done an outstanding job of ensuring adequate investment in crucial water and wastewater infrastructure for our citizens.”
Pamela Goldsmith-Jones Member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country
“The provincial contributions, in combination with the federal government’s investment in infrastructure across West Vancouver-Sea to Sky will bring significant benefits to communities by supplying safe groundwater, maintaining healthy standards, providing sufficient fire flows and addressing aging systems. This is an investment in the future of the communities throughout the region.”
Jordan Sturdy Member of Legislative Assembly for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky
“This grant allows Lions Bay, a community of only about 1,500 people and 583 tax parcels, to tackle a large project we’ve known about for over ten years, but simply could not do by ourselves. Replacing several crumbling concrete treated-water tanks with an optimal configuration of properly instrumented glass-lines steel vessels will reduce operating costs, address seismic safety and improve water quality. I’m grateful that high levels of government are getting serious about the infrastructure shortfall in small municipalities. We look forward to taking on further vital projects with their assistance.”
Karl Buhr Mayor, Lions Bay
“Keeping up to date with our aging water infrastructure is a huge challenge and a profound responsibility for municipalities. The support from the federal and provincial governments is critical in our efforts to
continually upgrade and maintain our water system, keep it as efficient as possible, and improve our water supply and sources into the future.”
Patricia Heintzman Mayor, Squamish
“Safe and effective wastewater treatment infrastructure is a cornerstone of a healthy community, and a key priority of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. The SLRD sincerely appreciates the support of our provincial and federal partners, which will enable us to deliver this much-needed service to the residents of Pinecrest Estates in a way that is affordable and environmentally responsible. We are tremendously excited to be moving forward with this project, which will help to ensure an excellent quality of life for present and future residents of Pinecrest Estates.”
Jack Crompton Chair, Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
“Thank you to the governments of Canada and British Columbia for confirmation of funding for addition of ultraviolet disinfection for the Emerald Water System. Infrastructure investments help the Resort Municipality of Whistler to continue to provide services to Whistler’s 12,000 residents and three million annual visitors. The upgrade of this infrastructure will help to ensure a high-quality water supply to the Emerald Neighbourhood.”
Nancy Wilhelm-Morden Mayor, Resort Municipality of Whistler
Quick facts This funding is part of the first phase of Investing in Canada, the Government of Canada’s historic plan to support public infrastructure across the country. The Government of Canada will provide more than $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years for public transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, transportation that supports trade, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.
Associated links
See how many Clean Water and Wastewater Fund projects have been approved in British Columbia and across the country: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/pt-sp/index-eng.html
Government of Canada’s $180-billion+ infrastructure plan: http://www.budget.gc.ca/fes- eea/2016/docs/themes/infrastructure-en.html
The Clean Water and Wastewater Fund: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/cwwf/cwwf-program- programme-eng.html.
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Contacts
Marjan Hatai Communications Manager and Executive Assistant to MP Pamela Goldsmith-Jones [email protected] 604-913-2660
Nicola Bentley Constituency Assistant to MLA Jordan Sturdy [email protected] 778-837-1137